Sprint 4G Automobile Test in Chicago

by Glenn Allison on November 23, 2010

I had the opportunity to perform a mobile performance test of Sprint ($S) high speed 4G internet services in Chicago.  The test was performed using a laptop and a Sprint model 301 USB (3G/4G) wireless card.  While I have been testing out 4G services at various points around Chicago over the last few weeks, this was one of my first opportunities to test it out at higher travelling speeds on the Edens expressway, and while navigating the stop and go streets of Chicago.

Overall I was quite impressed with the performance.  While driving in from the North Suburbs I was able to get caught up on email, reserve a study room at Gleacher Center, test out some features like streaming video from YouTube, plus capture some videos of the test process using the built-in Blackberry Bold 9700 video camera.

The Sprint model 301 USB card supports both 3G and 4G service.   Today, I was in the 4G service area, so by default I was connected at 4G speeds.    Whenever you are outside the coverage area for 4G, then this particular USB modem has the ability to fall back to 3G coverage, which for the most part, is rather ubiquitous.  While in downtown Chicago I was pleasantly surprised to see upload and download speeds of about 3 to 4 Mbps.  Using SpeakEasy.net I was able to perform a variety of speed tests throughout the city and typically saw speeds well above 2Mbps, and most speed tests were in the 3Mbps to 4Mbps range.

Streaming video worked great, and I was even able to test streaming of my favorite network WAN test video “Boom Boom Pow”.

Sprint 4G Automotive Test in Chicago from Glenn Allison on Vimeo.

You can learn more about 4G by going to Sprint.com, or please  follow along with my Twitter @glennallison.

{ 0 comments }

Sprint’s first 4G Phone: The Google Android HTC EVO “Game Changing”

by Glenn Allison on November 22, 2010

Today at CTIA, Sprint ($S) made a major announcement with launch of the first ever 4G Android phone; the HTC EVO 4G.   The phone, powered by Sprint 4G and manufactured by HTC, provides  high performance features like a 1Ghz processor (similar to a PC), an HDMI interface for connecting your HDTV and streaming movies, a built-in wireless hotspot for connecting  multiple PC’s, a touch screen interface (similar to iPhone), support for 30,000+ Google Android 2.1 applications, as well as robust performance for bandwidth intensive applications like streaming high definition video.

 

The much awaited 4G phone highlights just some of the several actions Sprint is taking to aggressively change the game in the mobile wireless market.

For those of you out there with an iPhone or some other Smartphone device like a Blackberry already, you might ask why is this is a big deal?   The answer.  Speed.  The launch of 4G services, together with a 4G phone, now opens the doors for numerous high applications including high definition video (typically limited to a PC only), wireless cloud computing (mobile feature rich applications), and interactive access to information from the web using social networking applications like Facebook, Twitter, and integration with Google.

Features:

  • High speed Internet access (about 10X performance boost over 3G)
  • Streaming high definition video (up to 720p), including HDMI interface for connection to HDTV
  • WiFi Hotspot for connection of multiple devices over 4G
  • GPS Navigation
  • Social networking integration: Facebook, Flickr, and Twitter
  • Google mobile services like YouTube, Google Voice, Google Talk, and Google Mail
  • Over 30,000 applications with Google Android 2.1

I am pretty excited about some of the potential uses of 4G, and the integrated support for voice, video, and data.   The 4G service helps provide a platform to support rich multimedia applications like video, as well as browse the web with lightening fast performance.   The network will likely drive new innovations with cloud based services, and it is conceivable this phone, and others like it, will be able to support a variety of new business applications.

 

Sprint also recently announced plans to roll out high speed 4G services to about 120 million Americans before the end of the year, and several new markets like Los Angeles and Miami.  They already have 4G launched in Chicago, Boston, Denver, Houston, Kansas City, Minneapolis, San Francisco, Washington D.C., and New York.    Sprint ($S) is a major investor in Clearwire ($CLWR), which is jointly owned with Google ($GOOG), Intel ($INTC), Comcast ($CMCSA), and Time Warner Cable ($TWX).

Based on the numerous applications associated with 4G, and the fact Sprint is the only carrier to offer it, I suspect Sprint will likely take some market share in the near term.  However, I suspect it is only a matter of time before industry titans Verizon and AT&T respond with their own 4G high speed networks.

You can learn more about the International CTIA Wireless 2010 show and 4G by going to the conference website, or be sure to follow along with my Twitter @glennallison.

{ 0 comments }

Cisco Integrated Wireless Data Connectivity 3G WWAN HWIC

by Glenn Allison on November 22, 2010

I continue to be impressed by the innovative uses for wireless data connectivity options using Cisco 3G WWAN HWIC cards such as HWIC-3G-CDMA-V Verizon ($VZ) or HWIC-3G-CDMA-S Sprint ($S).  With EVDO wireless technology, it is possible to quickly establish data communications for a particular location (fixed or mobile), even when traditional lines like T1 or DSL are unavailable.  This service tends to be widely available throughout the U.S., plus a variety of International locations as well.

With speeds approaching T1, the connectivity options using EVDO can be a suitable connection for use as an emergency backup connection (i.e. keeps location running even in event of a “last mile” issue),  rapid response option for disaster communications, or even as a primary connectivity option for some applications.Now with the emergence of 4G (WiMax and LTE), the ‘game changing’ aspects of data communications would seem to be on the horizon with the ability to support voice, data, and video.

You can learn more about Cisco wireless connectivity options using 3G by checking out this link on Cisco.com ($CSCO), or please follow along with my Twitter @glennallison. 

{ 0 comments }